Laundry apparatus



Dec. 3, 1940.

J. E. MARTIN ETAL ,223,998

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Jx me 5, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 o -e- I 8 00000019 9 o o e o 0 a 0 e e 0 E: 900000 00000000 0 0 o o o o e 0 00000000 000000 0 0'0 0 0 A a o 0 0 0 0 0000000 68 00000000 0 00 e o o 0 06000000 9 o o doeqaaoon J. E. MARTIN arm. .2 9

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Dec. 3, 1940.

Filed-June 5, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 liweni'ans John E. MarTin nder dar 0- J. E. MARTIN EI'AL 2,223,998

I LAUNDRY APPARATUS I Filed June 5, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 3, 1940. J. E. MARTIN ETAL LAUNDRY APPARATUS A Filed June 5, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 2% (R /Jo I/mder ATTO INVENTOR Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES LAUNDRY APPARATUS John E. Martin and Emil E. Hollander, Newark,

and Elvin E. Hollander, Arlington, N. J

signors to Star Equipment Corporation, Bloomfield, N. J., a. corporation of New Jersey Application June 5, 1935, Serial No. 25,076 1 Claims. (01. 68-23) Our invention relates to improvements in laundry apparatus, and particularly to machines for cleaning and drying fabrics of all types.

An important object of our invention is to provide a power-operated container for fabrics and the like in which they are subjected to agitation in a cleaning fluid to remove the dirt, grease and the like therefrom, and which extracts the cleaning fluid from the fabrics to dry them while they are still in the machine.

Otherobjects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention,

an embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevational, sectional view, the section being taken on the line l-l in Fig. 4; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 in Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a plan view;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a section on lineB-S in Fig. 5; Fig. '1 is a section on line 1-1 in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-81in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 in Figs. 1 and 3;

Figs. 1o, 11 and 12 are s'ections on lines 10-40,

-. "-11 and l2-i2, respectively, in Fig.8;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on theline l3 -l3 inFig.9; v 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view, taken from Fig. 4;

Fig; 15 is a section on line l5-l5 in Fig. 14;

Figs. 16 and 17 are sections on lines lS-IB and 11-, respectively in Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a plan view taken from the line l8-l 8 in Fig. 15;

s Fig. 19 is a section on, the line 19-!!! in Fig. 15;

Figs. 20, 21, 22 and 23 are enlarged sectional views taken on the lines 20-20, 2l-2l, 22-22 and 23-23, respectively, in Fig. 1;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged section on line 24-24 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 25 is aside elevational view, looking toward the left in Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a section on line 26-26 inFig. 24; and

Fig. 2'? is a detail sectional view.

The apparatus a of our invention is so constructed as to provide a machine into which soiled fabrics may be placed for cleaning and drying without removal therefrom. A container basket is loaded with the soiled fabrics, submerged in the cleaning fluid, and then subjected to an oscillatory movement to effectively force the cleaningfluid through the fabrics whereby'the dirt and grease is completely removed therefrom. The

' shape, as is clear from Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

container or basket construction is such that the r fluid with the fabrics therein is given such a movement that the cleaning fluid is very effectively passed through the fabrics, or, in other words, the fabrics are so ag'tatedwithin the body 5 of the fluid that they are thoroughly cleaned in a-minimum of time. At the end of the cleaning period the cleaning fluid is removed from the outer shell within which the basket is housed and then the basket is given a rapid rotary movement 10 whereby the remaining fluid is completely ejected from the fabrics. Thus the machine is capable of both the cleaning and drying operations.

Referring to the drawings, our improved machine comprises a base plate I provided with the 15 three tubular standards 2 spaced approximately one hundred twenty degrees apart. At 3 is a easing which houses the clutch mechanism and acts as an oil sump or-well. The casing 3 is provided with three .short arms I positioned over the 20 standards 2. Each arm or extension 4 is provided with a caster 5 in which a hardened ball 6 is mounted on ball bearings, as is particularly clear in Fig. 1. Vertically slidable within the standards 2 are the hollow pistons I which rest 5 upon heavy coil springs 9 seated upon discs 8 within the standards. It should be noted that these details of construction shown for only one standard are the same for all of the standards. The hollow piston I has a transverse wall inter- 3o mediate its ends against which the upper end of the spring 9 bears and in which is mounted a hardened seat ID for the supporting ball 8. Within the upper end of the piston and surround-- 'ing the caster support is a heavy ring of soft rub- 35 her ll.

'The casing a is provided with a removable I cover I2 which is formed into a vertical hollow standard at its center. Journalled in suitable hearings in this standard is a vertical drive shaft l3, to which is keyed a fluted collar 14" which serves to look a centralcylindrical housing M to this shaft. The housing l4 extends downwardly into four curved or concave portions 15 which have formed integral therewith the blades or vanes l6. These vanes l5 vary in cross sectional The radius of curvature of the sides of the vanes gradually increases from the center outwardly, as will be apparent from these detailed figures." This 50 construction is of great importance in the cleaning action of the machine, since the fabrics when immersed in the cleaning solution are given a. compound motion which has components radially of the basket and components circumierentially 55 elling in a roughly circular path in substantially vertical planes, as has been indicated by the arresult is that the cleaning being forced through the in- The central housing V ported by'the shaft l3, as described above. is

nested within the perforated basket or container l1 into which the fabrics are placed. This conof the casing I8 is hinge, genertion by means of the latches 20a. The upper end of the housing I4 is I member 24 which its bottom positioned so thatwhen the cover is 55 closed and the machine is started the latch pins 23 .will fly outwardly under centrifugal force so as to be in the path of movement of the flange 24a to prevent the cover from being opened while the machine is in operation.

60 The cover is provided with a vacuum-relief l8, subjecting it to considerable strain due to atmospheric pressure thereon. For this reason the valve 26 is provided to permit of the entrance of air into the casingif the pressure therein falls 70 too low.

As seen clearly in Figs. 14 and 15, the hinge 2| comprises a supporting member 21 secured to the casing I8 and in turn supporting the leaf 28 of the hinge upon a shaft 29 journalledtherein so 75 as to permit vertical sliding movement against in Figs. 1 and This cover is provided with a sealing ring 25 and may be locked in closed posi-' rotation to the basket.

the action of spring 30. As will be apparent, the purpose of this structure is to permit of the relatively large cover properly sitting on the bead around the opening of the ring l9 as it is closed. In bringing the cover down the sealing ring 25 5 adjacent the hinge strikes first and as the cover is completely closedthe shaft 29 is raised against the action of spring 30. This insures a tight seal around the entire opening. A safety switch is enclosed within the housing 3| and operated by 10 this hinged structure to prevent the operation of the motors K and J while the cover is open. The details of construction of this switch are clear from Figs. 16 v and 17. An arm 32 is pivotally mounted therein and has an extension under the shaft 29 at one end, and its other end is provided with .a contact finger 33 to engage a pair of fixed contacts in the motor control circuits. When the cover is open this switch is open, and when it is closed the switch is closed.

Within the casing i8 and extending for approximately half of the circumference thereof is an inner wall 34, which is best seen in Figs. 8 and 9. This wall provides a compartment which may be isolated from the chamber formed by the casing It by means of control valves, as will be described.

Fig. 13, a coupling member 36 provides means for attaching a fluid-supply pipe thereinto without introducing any of the liquidinto the space or chamber set oil by the wall 34. When the valves are properly set for this operation, as will be described later, cleaning fluid is introduced into the casing l8 and the level rises until= it reaches the top' of the wall 34, after which it flows thereover down into the chamber which this wall forms. The liquid is then removed from this chamber through a valve to be described.

The wall 34 has an opening therein, as shown 9, for example,

40 and operated by means of the cam?! upon the vertical shaft 38. This shaft extends upwardly through a tubular casing and terminates in .an

operating handle Ill clearly seen in Fig. 4. It is the casing II is provided with a. pair of valves within valve casings 40 and 45. The construction of these valves within valve casings 40 and 45 isclear in Fig. 3. Within the casing 40 is a valve 4| connected to a valve stem 42 which ispivotally connected to a vertically slidable rod 43, which in turn is pivotally connected at its upper 65 end to a lever 44 having cam-shaped ends which rest on top of the valve housing.

In a-similar way within the casing45 is a valve connected to a valve stem 41, pivotally connected extension 48 and the operating cam handle 48. Springs are provided to cause the valve to tend to seat to the position shown in Fig. 3.

When the handles 44 may raise and them. 7

It is the motor J which imports continuous It is supported from vthe casing 3, into which its power shaft 50 extends. This shaft is in longitudinal alignment'with the drive shaft .ll upon which the basket is mounted. Shaft 50 is provided with a cooling fan III for the motor J in accordance with well known practice; Secured to the lower end of shaft II. is a clutch drum or transmission member I! having a' dependingv clutch skirt or annular flange 51. 'Se- 75 and 49 are rotated, they lower the valves to open and close i the wall thereof which over the bearings of shaft 11.

cured to the upper end of shaft. 50 and locked thereonis a disc 52 provided with four equally spaced and properly shaped guides 56 between which rest the arcuate brake shoes These shoes are pulled radially toward the center by means of springs 55. When the basket is to be rotated by the motor J the brake shoes 54, which are provided with the usual brake lining, are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force to engage the inner wall of the drum 53 so that shafts 50 and I! are directly locked together and the basket is driven at motor speed.

The oscillatory movement of basket I1 is accomplished through an operating mechanism from motor K. The operating mechanism is controlled by the lever 58 and the shaft 59 which is journalled in the housing 3 and a bracket on the plate that housing. Mounted upon the end of shaft 59 is a yoke 60 having pins at the ends of its arms which lie in the groove of collar 6|. Formed with this collar is a cam surface 62 which cooperates with the round contact rod 64 mounted in an arm 63 pivotally supported by the shaft 66 and adjusted in its outward limit of movement by means of the set screw 65. The shaft 68 extends upwardly and is provided at its upper end with a cam 61 as shown in Figs. 1 and 22. This cam 61 is mounted between the ends of the clutch shoes 88 which are of the shape shown in Fig. 22 to give themthe proper sprlnginess so that when the cam is rotated from the position shown the substantially se -circular shoes will move at all points in a. radial direction. A spring 69 interconnects these shoes and resists their outward movement by means of the cam 81. The usual brake lining is employed so that when the shoes are expanded they grip the inner wall of the skirt 51. The arm 63 and the shaft 66 are supported upon a disc which has a depending cylindrical portion as shown in Fig. 1 upon which the grooved collar 6! is mounted. The disc 18 is provided with a short pin shaft 1! to which is pivotally secured a link 12, which link, in turn, is pivotally connected to a pin on the crank 13, as

shown in Figs. 24 and 26. The crank 13 is secured to a shaft 11, which shaft is journalled in a depending housing 82 supported from the easing 3, as shown in Fig. 5. Within the housing 82 and keyed to the shaft 11 is a worm-wheel 16 meshes with the worm on the shaft 14 of motor K.

Mounted below' the housing 82 and formed as apart thereof is a. smaller housing 18 within which a small gear type pump is enclosed. The gear 19 of this pump is keyed to the lower shaft 11 and meshes with the idler gear 80. The pipe 8| is connected to the discharge end of the pump and the opening 83 connects'the inlet of the"pump with the bottom of the housing 82. The pipe 8| extends upwardly through the housing 3 in the fitting 86 which has openings through into a grooved ring 84 to which is connected a length of pipe 85 which terminates Slldably mounted within the fitting 86 and resting upon a .coil spring is a nipple 81 having a flanged upper end which seats against a hollow-boss 89 on the bottom of the cover I 2, as shown in Fig. 3. When the cover is mounted in place the parts 89 and- 81 associate to form av tight seal through the agency of the spring. A suitable gasket is employed, as indicated in Fig. 3. The boss 89 is connected by a pipe 88'which leads up into the main. bearing for the basket, as shown in Fig. 1,

59' by which motor J is supported from petroleum base solvents such as naphtha, benend of fabrics requiring the so as to discharge oil thereover. The oil trickles down through the upper bearing onto the lower bearing and from there back into the sump in casing 8. the oil also is discharged from pipe 85 over the bearings of the shaft 11 and back in- 5 to the bottom of casing 82 and from there to the intake of the pump through the passage 83.

To effect oscillation of the basket, motor K is energized, causing it to continuously revolve. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the disc 10 will be givenan oscillatory movement by reason of the crank and link connection thereto. The oscillatory movement of disc 10 is transmitted to the skirt 51 and hence to shaft l3 and basket'li by rotating lever 58 so that the fork 60 thereon raises the collar SI and its cam surface 62. The upper movement thereof causesthe outer movement of lever 63 and the rotation of cam 51, spreading the clutch shoes 88 so that they p the skirt.

The lever 58 and the clutch controlled thereby may be employed as a brake to stop the basket when the motor J is deenergized. Thus when the motor J is deenergized if the clutch handle is moved to cause the clutch shoes 68 to grip the skirt 51 it will be apparent that the basket may be quickly brought to a stop. As indicated, for example, in Fig. 25, the shaft 59 is provided with a contact finger 90 positioned to engageand diseng e the fixed contact finger which fingers may be included in the control circuit for the motor J so that when the basket is being oscillated by motor K it will be impossible to energize motor J. The manner of using this switch for this purpose will be obvious to those skilled in the art. In a broad sense the present apparatus works most efilciently with a chlorinated solvent such as carbon tetrachloride, but it may be used with zine, and the like. The machine as constructed may employ three separate and distinct fluids. These fluids may be a solvent cleaning orfilter fluid, a soap cleaning fluid and a rinsing fluid. The soap fluid is preferably a special combination of liquid soap and cleaning fluid. The rinse fluid may be considered as a batch of clean distilled fllter fluid.

'As a preliminary to a detailed description of the possible operation of the machine it is helpful to first note the procedure in a general way.

In'the cleaning of heavy materials such as woolens and almost all materials of dark color, only the solvent cleaning or filter fluid is used. In the cleaning of lighter materials both in weight and in color, such as silks, rayons and the like, the filter fluid, the soap fluid and the rinse fluid are preferably used. The general procedure with regard to a batch of garments or use of three fluids comprises loading a batch of fabric into the basket H. The filter fluid is then admitted to the tub, as will be described in detail later, and the basket oscillated to drive the fluid through the fabrics and remove the dirt and grease therefrom. Atthe end of this period the fluid is allowed to drain from the tub and the basket is then given continuous rotary motion at a speed of approximately 900 R.'P. M. to dry the batch. At the end of this extraction period the soap fluid is admitted to the tub and the fabrics are again agitated by oscillation of the basket, for a preagain extracted by rotation of the. basket. The 5' rinse fluid is then admitted to the tub and the fabrics agitated therein by oscillation of the basket. At the end of the rinsing period the rinse fluid is pumped from the tub. The fabrics 5 are then fully dried by rotation of the basket as before, and then remnved therefrom, thoroughly cleaned and dried articles. I

The various detailed manipulations of the valves and other parts of the machine will now be given in. order to carry out the general procedure briefly explained above.

In order to provide the base from which to start it will be assumed that all valves on the machine are closed. Filter fluid is admitted into the inner tub by way of the supply connection 35. The valve 46 is opened. The filter fluid going into the inner tub will build up to the level of the top of the partition of the inner tub. At this level the fluid spills over into the outer tub and falls by gravity through valve st.

The next step is to set the basket, which is loaded with fabrics to be cleaned, into oscillation. The motor K is energized and the clutch lever 58 is operated to interconnect the motor and the basket through the clutch mechanism previously described. At the end of a predetermined period, the supply circuit to motor K.

is opened, bringing the motor and basket to a stop. This period is determined by experience, and of course depends upon thenature of the cleaning fluid and the fabrics, as well as the extent to which they are soiled. I The cleaning or filter fluid is then removed from the tub by opening valve 3t, permitting the fluid to drain from the bottom of the inner tub into the outer tub, and thence out through the open valve 48. When the tub is completely empty the garments are dried by rotating the entire tub or basket. Clutch lever 58 is operated to disengage the clutch if this has not already been done, and motor J is energized whichcauses the basket to rotate continuously for a period of time as might be desired. vWhen the motor J shuts off the clutch lever 58 may be operated as previously described to act as a brake to bring the basket to a quick stop when desired. If the batch of garments or fabrics in the basket is of such a nature that it is not desired or necessary to subject them to further cleaning operations, they may be removed as clean, finished articles. However, if the nature of the batch is such as to make it desirable to subject them to cleaning operations with the soap fluid and the rinse fluid,.the next step is toclose valve 46 and introduce the soap fluid into thetub by way of the connection 35. r The basket is then, set in oscillation by the operation of motor K and clutch lever 58 as before. At the end of the washing period, the

, 60 motor K is stopped and the clutch lever 58 returned to'its first position. The fluid is removed from the tub by opening valves 36 and 4t. The motor J is now operated ,to revolve the basket in a continuous rotation so as to extract the remainder of the soap fluid from the garments. removed from the apparatus if they are of such a nature as not to require any rinsing operation. On the other hand, if it is desired to rinse the fabrics an operation similar to that with the soap fluid is carried out.

Valves 38 and M are closed, the tub is filled with ,the rinse fluid through the connection 35,

and the basket set in'oscillation as before. At

the end the rinsing period, v lves 3d and M from twenty minutes to an hour to thoroughly the order of seven minutes, which, followed up 15 Here again the garments may now be.

are opened to drain the fluid from the tub. The basket is againset into continuous rotation to extract the fluid in the garments. The garments are now removed from the basket in a thoroughly cleaned, rinsed and dried condition. 5

The particular structure disclosed is of major importance since it has been found by actual experience that fabrics are more rapidly and thoroughly cleaned by means of this apparatus than 'has'been heretofore possible. For example, 10 in the best practice heretofore known, it takes clean a batch of fabrics, whereas with the machine of this invention the average time is of by two or three minutes of extraction, results in the fabrics being thoroughly cleaned and dried.

The ability of both cleaning and extracting in the same machine is in a large measure facili- 20 tated by the manner of mounting the tub. This tub is fully floating on the spring and ball supports so that very high speeds of operation may be effected, especially during the extracting oporation. 'The basket of this machine normally 25 operates at approximately 900 revolutions per minute, which is only possible because of the particular form of mounting and because of the fact that the fabrics evenly distribute their mass within the basket during the cleaning operation. 30

It will be noted that the tub is permitted, by reason of the structure of its support, both vertical movement and movement inany direction in a horizontal plane.

From the above description it will be apparent 5 that this invention resides in certain principles of construction and operation which may be embodied in other physical form and carried out in other ways without departing from the scope thereof. It is notdesired therefore to be strictly o limited to the disclosure as given for purposes of illustration, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed: 4

1. In laundry apparatus of the characterde- 45 scribed, a basket supported for rotary movement,

a drive shaft and a power shaft disposed.- in endto-end alignment with each other and rotatable about a common axis independently of and. relatively with respect to each other, means con- 50 necting said drive shaft to said basket, means for rotating said power shaft continuously in one direction, means disposed at and associated with the adjacent ends of said shafts for connecting said drive shaft to said power shaft for rotation 55 with the latter, said last-named means comprising a clutch drum fixed to saiddrive shaft and means disposed within said drum and fixed for rotation'with said power shaft and. movable by centrifugal force into engagement with the ,adso -jacen t inner surface of said drum; means for imparting oscillatory movement to said drive shaft about said axis and comprising a clutch part 'moveable into and out of engagement with said drum, means for oscillating said clutch, part, and 65- control means for moving said clutch part into and out of engagement with said drum.

2. In laundry apparatus of the character de scribed, a basket supported for rotary movement,

, a drive shaft and a power shaft disposed id align- 7o ment with each other and rotatable about a common axis independently of and relatively with respect to each other, means connecting said drive shaft to said basketymeans for rotating said power shaft continuously in one direction, 7

' comprising a clutch pendently of and relatively 2,223,998 means disposed at and associated with the adiacent ends of said shafts for connecting said drive shaft to said power shaft forrotation with the latter, said last-named means comprising a clutch drum provided with an anular flange and fixed tosaid drive shaft, and shoes disposed within said drum and fixed for rotation with said power shaft and movable by centrifugal force into engagement with the adjacent inner surface of said drum, means for imparting oscillatory movement to said drive shaft about said axis and shoe disposed within said flange and moveable into and out of engagement with the adjacent surface thereof, means for oscillating said clutch shoe, and control means for moving said clutch shoe into and out of engagement with said flange.

3. In laundry apparatus of the character described, a basket supported for rotary movement, a drive shaft and a power shaft rotatable independently of and relatively with respect to each other, means connecting said drive shaft to said basket, 9. motor for rotating said power shaft continuously in one direction, a transmission member connected to said drive shaft, means for connecting said member to said power shaft for rotation thereby, an element supported for oscillatory movement, a second motor for oscillating said element, and means for connecting said member to said element for oscillatory movement therewith, said member being in the form of a clutch drum fixed to said drive shaft and enclosing said second-named means and said element. 4. In laundry apparatus of the character described, a basket supported for rotary movement, a drive shaft and a power shaft rotatable indewith respect to each other, means connecting said drive shaft-to said basket, 9. motor for rotating said power shaft continuously in one direction, a transmission member connected to said drive shaft, means responsive to centrifugal force developed upon rotation of said power shaft and operable under such force to connect said member to said power shaft for rotation thereby, an element supported for oscillatory movement, a second motor for oscillating said element, and means for connecting said member to said element for oscillatory movement therewith, said member being in the form of a clutch drum fixed to said drive shaft and enclosing said second-named means and said element.

5.'In laundry apparatus of the character described, a housing, a motor disposed below and supported from said housing, a vertically disposed power shaft driven directly from said motor'andextendin8 npw through the bottom of said housing into the interior thereof, a drive shaft disposed above and in alignment with said power shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation of said power shaft, a basket connected to said drive shaft-for movement therewith, means disposed at and associated with the adjacent ends of said shafts for connecting said drive shaft to said power shaft for rotation with the latter, means for imparting oscillatory movement to said drive shaft, means for controlling said last-named means and including a control shaft journalled in and extending into said housing from the exterior thereof, and means for rotating said control shaft into and out of the control position thereof.

6. In laundry apparatus of the character described, a housing, a motor disposed below and supported from said housing, a vertically disposed power shaft driven directly from said motor and extending upwardly through the bottom of said housing into the interior thereof, a drive shaft disposed above and in alignment with said power shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation of said power shaft, a basket connected to said, drive shaft for movement therewith, a' second motor disposed below and supported fromsaid housing, means disposed at and associated with the adjacent ends of said shafts for connecting said drive shaft to said power shaft for rotation with the latter, and means driven from said second motor for imparting oscillatory movement to said drive shaft; said last-named means including a crank driven by said second motor, a clutch member rotatable about said axis and relatively with respect to said shafts, a second clutch member fixed for rotation with said drive shaft and disposed for engagement by said firstnamed clutch member, a link connecting said crank and said first-named clutch member, and means for effecting engagement and disengagement of said clutch members.

'7. In laundry apparatus of the character described, a housing, a motor disposed below and supported from said housing, a vertically disposed power shaft driven directly from said motor and extending upwardly through the bottom of said housing into the interior thereof, a drive shaft disposed above and in alignment with said power shaft for rotation about said power shaft, a basket connected to said drive shaft for movement therewith, a second motor disposed below and supported from said housing, means disposed at and associated with the adjacent ends of said shafts for connecting said drive shaft to said power shaft for rotation with the latter, clutch means, driven from said second motor for imparting oscillatory movement to said drive shaft, and means for controlling said clutch means; said control means comprising a collar disposed about said power shaft and slideable axially thereof and provided with a cam surface. means for actuating said collar, and means engageable with said cam surface and operable by virtue of such engagement to effect clutching action of said clutch means.

JOHN E. MARTIN. mma acumen. ELVIN s. HOILANDER. 

